KARACHI: Pakistan Sports Administration is bracing for a potential crisis in light of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) measures aimed at tightening oversight over National Sports Federations (NSFs).
The reforms, brought forward through three major notifications, available on the PSB website, are likely to spark a backlash from the Pakistan Olympic Association and its affiliated federations, who claim the steps threaten autonomy and violate international norms.
The General Socialist Office’s move includes imposing election regulations, a new code of ethics and governance, and a model constitution for unions.
Authority officials described these steps as crucial to improving management, ensuring transparency and eliminating malpractices in the country’s sports sector. However, critics argue that these steps constitute a violation of international sporting laws.
Sports election regulations aim to centralize electoral processes under the supervision of an independent election committee formed by the General Sports Office. This body is responsible for supervising the audit of club memberships and finalizing the voter lists, ensuring that the elections are conducted fairly and transparently.
According to the notification, the Director General of the General Office of the Socialist Party can authorize the holding of elections in any union, while disputes arising out of such elections will be resolved by an electoral tribunal also constituted within the framework of the General Office of the Socialist Party.
“The entire electoral process, from the club audit to the National Salvation Front elections, will be completed within 120 days,” the notification said, with the Election Court empowered to resolve objections and disputes.
While the PSB insists these measures will improve efficiency, the POA and member associations consider them an overreach. In a letter sent last month, the 23 federations said any such steps by the PSB would violate international sporting laws and interfere with their independence.
“Each federation operates according to the rules of its own international governing body, and the intervention of the General Federation Council violates these frameworks,” they noted.
In addition to the Election Regulations, there is also an introduction to the Code of Ethics and Governance which addresses unethical practices such as match-fixing, corruption, age fraud, doping, harassment and human trafficking.
Violators face severe penalties, including oral and written reprimands, temporary bans ranging from one to ten years, and lifetime bans for the most serious violations.
At the same time, the PSB also retains the power to suspend or dismiss entire federations in extreme cases, making them ineligible for government funding and access to infrastructure.
“The Code affirms our commitment to upholding ethical standards in sport and ensuring accountability,” the notice said.
Moreover, cases involving criminal misconduct will be referred to relevant investigative agencies, the notification added.
In addition, the General Sports Council asked national federations to adopt a “model constitution” designed to align governance structures with international standards and the country’s national sports policy.
While the General Sports Federation says these measures would enhance transparency and accountability, sports federations remain skeptical.
“This approach jeopardizes the independence we need to operate effectively,” a senior union official commented.
The action plan has been particularly vocal in its opposition, warning that such measures could lead Pakistan to face serious consequences on the international sporting stage.
“We were aware of what PSB was planning. Although we have not received the notification yet (but) all sports bodies have already decided to seek advice from their respective international federations and will act accordingly,” a sports federation official said. On condition of anonymity.